Monday, April 09, 2007

Same story...Different day

By Angelo Saggiomo
The Phanatic Magazine

Carlos Delgado finished 3-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored as New York rallied with a seven-run eighth inning and stunned Philadelphia, 11-5, in the first of a three-game series at Shea Stadium.

Moises Alou had two hits with two RBI and David Wright drove in a pair and scored a run for the Mets, who snapped a two-game skid and won their fourth straight home opener. Pedro Feliciano (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the victory.

Ryan Howard belted his first home run of the season -- a three-run shot -- and Chase Utley homered and finished with two RBI for the Phillies, who have dropped three in a row. Geoff Geary suffered the loss, allowing five runs -- two earned -- on just two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Trailing 5-4 in the eighth, New York started the rally when Alou and Shawn Green led off with back-to-back singles. Jose Valentin then laid down a bunt and reached first while Alou was thrown out at third. Pinch-hitter Julio Franco drew a walk to load the bases and Jose Reyes reached first on Jimmy Rollins' fielding error, which scored pinch-runner Endy Chavez.

Geary didn't help things by throwing a wild pitch over catcher Carlos Ruiz's head, allowing Valentin to touch home, giving the Mets a 6-5 lead. After Paul Lo Duca walked to re-load the bases, Jon Lieber, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, came on in relief of Geary and gave up a sac fly to Carlos Beltran. Delgado also drew a walk and Wright followed up by smacking a double to left, plating Reyes and Lo Duca.

Alou broke the game open with his second base hit of the inning to score Delgado and Wright.

John Maine started on the mound for the Mets and surrendered two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking a career-high six in 4 2/3 innings.

Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead in the third on Utley's sacrifice fly, but Valentin's two-out, two-run single put New York on top 2-1 in the fourth.

The Phillies didn't waste any time in tying the game as Utley belted a solo homer to left in the fifth.

In the bottom of the inning, Reyes touched home on Delgado's sac fly to give the Mets a 3-2 edge. Reyes appeared to pop out near the pitcher's mound, but advanced to second after Howard collided with third baseman Abraham Nunez, causing the ball to drop, and moved to third when Lo Duca grounded out.

New York's lead didn't last long, though, as Howard came through and blasted a three-run homer off reliever Ambiorix Burgos in the sixth. With one out, Rollins was hit by a pitch and Shane Victorino singled, then stole second. After Utley struck out, Howard sent a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall, giving Philadelphia a two-run cushion.

The Mets cut within one in the seventh when Lo Duca scored on Delgado's base hit to center.

Cole Hamels' solid pitching was wasted as he yielding three runs -- two earned -- with seven strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

1 comment:

Ben said...

what a terrible game. it made me sick. another wasted performance by hamels.

on the good news, Scott Graham was on 950 today and i got to talk to him. The new radio broadcast team of Franzke and LA isnt getting it done.